In praise of... Edward Stourton

In praise of... Edward Stourton

Monday 15 December 2008 19.01 EST
First published on Monday 15 December 2008 19.01 EST

Today programme presenters swim in one of the most brightly lit goldfish bowls in the British media. The Radio 4 audience wakes up, showers and eats breakfast with them. Listeners have their opinions - and some prejudices - about the presenters' accents, interviewing styles, and even their supposed political views. Feelings can run high. Some listeners lunge across the bathroom in mid-shave to switch to Radio 3 when Edward Stourton comes on. Others breathe a sigh of relief when his measured tones replace John Humphrys' constant interruptions. Stand back a little, though, and the truth is that all the programme's presenters are broadcasters who have reached the top of their profession, and who together make Today the great radio institution that it is. That does not mean they should all remain on the programme for life. But it does mean that they are entitled to far more professional respect than the BBC has displayed in ejecting Mr Stourton from the team in favour of Justin Webb. No one in any field should find out they are losing their job from the media. But that is doubly true when an employee is as experienced and professional as Mr Stourton. He is right to contrast his own shabby sacking, when he has committed no offence except, it seems, to sound a bit posh, with the BBC's weasel suspension of Jonathan Ross, who actually did something seriously wrong. Mr Stourton is right to make a public fuss. The BBC owes him both an apology and a job.